Family law.
Service of divorce papers, custody motions, restraining orders, and RFOs with the sensitivity these cases demand.
Family law service is rarely just about handing over paper. Parties are often hostile, evasive, or actively unsafe to approach. The deadlines are unforgiving and the consequences of a botched serve range from a postponed hearing to a vacated restraining order. Servd builds the workflow around the realities of the matter — evasive ex-spouses, sensitive DV context, court hearing dates set 21 days out, and the strict CCP rules that govern how each filing must be served.
For divorce petitions, RFOs, and custody motions, our default is personal service on the named party. When the respondent is dodging service, we document diligence across multiple addresses, employer locations, and times of day — exactly the record a court needs to authorize sub-service under CCP §415.20(b) or service by posting under §415.50. For temporary restraining orders, we treat the matter as time-critical: TROs cannot be substituted; CCP §415.95 governs service of certain protective orders; and the hearing date won't move because we didn't get it done. We monitor the file from intake through return of service.
Servd is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. If you're representing yourself in a family matter, our chat will move quickly through the mechanical questions, hand you the affidavit when service is complete, and offer to match you with a family law attorney if you'd like one. The decision is yours.
What we handle
The matters our intake chat is trained for. If your case looks like one of these, the workflow already knows it.
What's hard about this and how we handle it
The specific challenges the workflow is designed for.
Evasive ex-spouse
When the respondent knows the papers are coming, they stop answering the door. We document attempts at three or more distinct addresses (home, work, family) across morning, evening, and weekend windows so the diligence record supports a §415.20(b) substituted-service order or §415.50 publication application if it comes to that.
Restraining order deadlines
A TRO is only enforceable once served. Hearings are typically set within 21-25 days of issuance. If service fails, the order lapses and the petitioner is exposed. Servd treats every TRO as a rush by default and confirms personal service before the hearing window closes. CCP §415.95 governs service of certain protective orders.
DV-sensitive context
For domestic violence matters, the server is briefed on the protective order before approach and never reveals the petitioner's current address. Affidavit photos exclude faces of bystanders. We coordinate with shelters and confidential addresses where applicable.
Hearing-bound service windows
Family law motions are pegged to a hearing date set by the court at filing. Service has to land 16 court days before the hearing in most divisions. We schedule attempts from the hearing date backwards so the affidavit is in your hands with days to spare, not hours.
Co-parent communication boundaries
Many of our family-law customers are actively avoiding direct contact with the other party. The chat surface lets a paralegal or pro se petitioner answer service questions without ever speaking to the respondent. The server is the only person who interacts with the other party.
Services for this work
The Servd services most commonly used on these matters.
We had a TRO with a 14-day hearing window and a respondent who'd already evaded two prior servers. Servd hit him at his workplace on day two and the affidavit was filed the next morning.
Questions
What paralegals and pro se litigants ask most often.
Can Servd serve a restraining order?
Yes. TROs, EPOs, CH-100, EA-100 packets — we serve them. Substituted service is generally not available for protective orders; we plan for personal service and document diligence accordingly. Service must be completed before the hearing date.
What if my ex-spouse is dodging service?
After three documented personal attempts at distinct times and (where applicable) addresses, California allows substituted service on a competent adult at the dwelling under CCP §415.20(b), followed by mailing. We compile the diligence record. For harder cases, we can run a skip trace ($80 flat add-on) to find a current work or residence address.
How fast can a divorce summons be served?
Standard is up to 3 attempts within 5 days. Rush is 24-48 hours. Expedited is same-day (filed before noon). Nationwide flat rate: Standard $99, Rush $159, Expedited $229. Volume discount for firms with 11+ cases/month.
Do I have to be in the same room as the respondent?
No. The server serves the papers. You never need to interact with the respondent — and in DV-sensitive cases, you should not. Our chat handles intake and updates without putting you in contact with the other party.
Can Servd advise me on what to file?
No. Servd is not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice or fill out family law forms beyond mechanical data entry. If you need help deciding what to file, contact your court's self-help center or a licensed family-law attorney.
Ready to start your family law case?
The intake chat is built for this work. Drop the documents, confirm the caption, dispatch.